Merc have an advantage over Land Rover in that regard though.
they have the following models.
A,B,C,E,S class.
GLA,GLB,GLC,GLC coupe (why?? ) GLE, GLE coupe (why?? ) GLS.
Then the SL models and vans.
The G wagon, in the U.K., starts at £93,250 for the AMG line G350 D.
when the G starts at £93 grand and you have the other massive amounts of models in the line up. You can do what you like with it as it’s a niche seller and the costs are supported by the rest of the line up.
Land Rover need the defender to sell globally and be one of its top sellers.
Let’s not forget the last defender sold in the USA was in 97, and wasn’t exactly a huge seller then. 19 years later, the last defender rolled off the line.
Still without an airbag or side impact protection that saw it removed from the USA.